Survival Of The Fattest : The Key To Human Brain Evolution

Cunnane, Stephen C.

ISBN 10: 9812561919 / ISBN 13: 9789812561916

Edité par World Scientific Pub Co Inc, 2005

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N° de réf. du vendeur 3402371-n

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Survival Of The Fattest : The Key To Human Brain Evolution
• Éditeur: World Scientific Pub Co Inc
• Date de parution: 2005
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN à 10 chiffres: 9812561919
• ISBN à 13 chiffres: 9789812561916
• Reliure: Couverture rigide
• État de l'article: New

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Synopsis

How did humans evolve larger and more sophisticated brains?In general, evolution depends on a special combination of circumstances: part genetics, part time, and part environment. In the case of human brain evolution, the main environmental influence was adaptation to a 'shore-based' diet, which provided the world's richest source of nutrition, as well as a sedentary lifestyle that promoted fat deposition. Such a diet included shellfish, fish, marsh plants, frogs, bird's eggs, etc. Humans and, and more importantly, hominid babies started to get fat, a crucial distinction that led to the development of larger brains and to the evolution of modern humans. A larger brain is expensive to maintain and this increasing demand for energy results in, succinctly, survival of the fattest.

Présentation de l'éditeur

“The nutritionist's perspective that brings energy, fatty acid metabolism, and nutrition to the fore makes this account a provocative and fast-paced one. Readers will be challenged and intrigued by this well thought-out volume.” Joyce A Nettleton, Dsc, Rd ScienceVoice Consulting Denver, Colorado “Anyone interested in how humans evolved will find much of interest in this book . . . the main thread of the argument seems so plausible that many readers will want to delve further by way of a number of the items listed in the bibliography.” Henry H Bauer Professor Emeritus of Chemistry & Science Studies, Dean Emeritus of Arts & Sciences Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University “This book is full of interesting facts about our brains and about nutrition and brain and body biochemistry. Cunnane weaves a very complex and multi-faceted hypothesis systematically and relatively clearly . . . I found the book thought-provoking. It shares data and ideas that are relatively novel and interesting . . .” European Neurology How did humans evolve larger and more sophisticated brains? In general, evolution depends on a special combination of circumstances: part genetics, part time, and part environment. In the case of human brain evolution, the main environmental influence was adaptation to a 'shore-based' diet, which provided the world's richest source of nutrition, as well as a sedentary lifestyle that promoted fat deposition. Such a diet included shellfish, fish, marsh plants, frogs, bird's eggs, etc. Humans and, and more importantly, hominid babies started to get fat, a crucial distinction that led to the development of larger brains and to the evolution of modern humans. A larger brain is expensive to maintain and this increasing demand for energy results in, succinctly, survival of the fattest.